Dawes Arboretumhttp://dawesarb.org
Mon, 13 Aug 2018 13:16:26 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.8From the Archives – Bertie’s Hatshttp://dawesarb.org/blog/from-the-archives-berties-hats/
http://dawesarb.org/blog/from-the-archives-berties-hats/#respondMon, 16 Jul 2018 12:14:28 +0000http://dawesarb.org/?p=12354By Sarah Aisenbrey, Archivist Did you know that The Dawes Arboretum houses over 92,000 archival items? They are located between the Daweswood House Museum, History Center, and Archive Building, and we care for and interpret these items. Here’s an inside look at some of these objects – our co-founder Bertie Dawes’s hats. Bertie Dawes was […]

Did you know that The Dawes Arboretum houses over 92,000 archival items? They are located between the Daweswood House Museum, History Center, and Archive Building, and we care for and interpret these items. Here’s an inside look at some of these objects – our co-founder Bertie Dawes’s hats.

Bertie Dawes was an avid collector of hats; we have almost 30 in our archive. Bertie lived from 1872 to 1958, and her hats show not just what she favored in terms of fashion, but what was stylish during her life.

In the late 1890s, Bertie wore hats with real bird feathers. Hats with feathers (or even entire birds) were very common; however, the National Audubon Society advocated for an end to this practice as it was pushing many bird species to extinction. This is a photo of Bertie and her friends in the late 19th century – Bertie is on the left.

Between the end of the 19th century and the end of World War I in 1918, Bertie favored hats with very wide brims, as you can see by this photograph taken in 1912. Her style became more sophisticated, as did her position in life. Her husband and our other co-founder, Beman Dawes, started his work in the oil industry with his founding of The Ohio Cities Gas in 1914 (this became The Pure Oil Company in 1920) which was very lucrative for the Dawes family.

From the 1920s until her death in 1958, Bertie collected hats from local Columbus department stores, specialty stores in Florida, and even department stores in Chicago and New York City. This photo from the early 1950s shows Bertie in a hat made by Martha Weathered, a famous milliner (hat-maker) from Chicago. Here you will also see a photo of the hat today, as it is in our archives.

If you would like to learn more about our Archives, or to volunteer with the History Department, call 800.44.DAWES.

]]>http://dawesarb.org/blog/from-the-archives-berties-hats/feed/0Monarchs at The Dawes Arboretumhttp://dawesarb.org/blog/monarchs-at-the-dawes-arboretum/
http://dawesarb.org/blog/monarchs-at-the-dawes-arboretum/#respondFri, 22 Jun 2018 17:54:01 +0000http://dawesarb.org/?p=12308By Livia Raulinaitis, Conservation Research Technician How well do you know the Monarch butterfly? Many recognize its iconic wing pattern, but few realize that this small animal is truly amazing! Over its 30-day maturation cycle, this creature will begin in an egg less than 1 mm wide, grow to a 5 cm-long caterpillar and then […]

How well do you know the Monarch butterfly? Many recognize its iconic wing pattern, but few realize that this small animal is truly amazing! Over its 30-day maturation cycle, this creature will begin in an egg less than 1 mm wide, grow to a 5 cm-long caterpillar and then liquefy its body within a chrysalis before it emerges as a full-fledged butterfly. Talk about a stressful puberty! As adults, Monarchs travel up to 130 miles per day during their migration to Mexico, where they overwinter before traveling north to lay up to 300 eggs in the spring.

Monarchs have been an icon of conservation since the 1990s when their populations started to decline. Habitat fragmentation, use of pesticides and removal of milkweed from the landscape has reduced the number of successful migrations and eliminated vital breeding grounds. As a result, Monarch populations have fallen nearly 90 percent in the past 20 years.

The Dawes Arboretum is working to combat declines in Monarch populations within our region. Arboretum grounds feature an abundance of native flowering plants which provide vital nectar resources to adult butterflies. You will frequently find the Monarch host plant milkweed as you explore The Arboretum. In their caterpillar stage, Monarchs are heavily dependent on milkweed. In fact, it’s the only plant they eat!

Additionally, The Dawes Arboretum participates in a national Monarch rearing and tagging effort through the University of Kansas. Because Monarchs are subjected to a variety of environmental pressures in the wild, very few make it to adulthood. Our rearing efforts boost their chances of survival from 5 percent to 90 percent. In 2017, we successfully reared and released 178 Monarchs.

We hope that you will also help Monarch populations however you are able. The best thing you can do for these tiny creatures is plant native plants in your garden! Monarchs need plenty of food and nectar resources to bulk up for their big trip to Mexico and can only succeed in their migration if they can find nectar stop-overs on the way. There are a variety of Milkweed species, such as Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa), Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) and more uncommon species such as White Milkweed (Asclepias variegata). Each of these species features a stunning flower cluster which will add vibrant color and interest to your garden. Cutting back on the use of pesticides in your garden will also help reduce butterfly mortality. Additionally, you can help spread milkweed populations by collecting milkweed pods and submitting them to the Licking County Soil and Water Conservation District (more detail on this program is available at www.lickingswcd.com/news/2017/08/31/milkweeds-for-monarchs). Please consider volunteering with our rearing and tagging program here at The Arboretum. We would love to have you join us!

]]>http://dawesarb.org/blog/monarchs-at-the-dawes-arboretum/feed/0Ten Reasons Why Camp Dawes is Awesomehttp://dawesarb.org/blog/ten-reasons-why-camp-dawes-is-awesome/
http://dawesarb.org/blog/ten-reasons-why-camp-dawes-is-awesome/#respondTue, 05 Jun 2018 17:00:28 +0000http://dawesarb.org/?p=12255By Jill Holton-Arrasmith, Marketing Manager Camp Dawes day camp sessions start next week, and we are looking forward to another successful camp season. We still have spaces in some of our camp sessions. Now is the perfect time to register for a summer adventure at Camp Dawes. Not sure if day camps at The Arboretum […]

Camp Dawes day camp sessions start next week, and we are looking forward to another successful camp season. We still have spaces in some of our camp sessions. Now is the perfect time to register for a summer adventure at Camp Dawes. Not sure if day camps at The Arboretum are the right fit for your little explorer, check out the list of reasons why these day camps are awesome. (We modified it from a blog post we published a few years ago.)

Ten Reasons why Camp Dawes is Awesome

Discovering things about the natural world

Making new friends

Learning about wild creatures

Making neat projects to take home

Identifying trees and plants

Participating in lots of hands-on activities

Getting exercise

Learning ways you can protect our environment

Sharing what your learn with your family

Enjoying fresh air and sunshine

These are just a few reasons why Camp Dawes is a great summer adventure. Visit our website calendar to learn about upcoming sessions and to register. We hope to see your young outdoor explorer this summer!

]]>http://dawesarb.org/blog/ten-reasons-why-camp-dawes-is-awesome/feed/0Be Still my Heart…http://dawesarb.org/blog/be-still-my-heart/
http://dawesarb.org/blog/be-still-my-heart/#respondTue, 08 May 2018 13:52:25 +0000http://dawesarb.org/?p=12157By Mike Ecker, Director of Living Collections It’s a balmy, sunny spring morning. All that separates me from a wealth of sumptuous trees and shrubs is a flimsy ribbon that’s not to come down until the opening of The Dawes Arboretum’s Spring Plant Sale. Ah, it’s time! My eyes dart from side to side, not […]

It’s a balmy, sunny spring morning. All that separates me from a wealth of sumptuous trees and shrubs is a flimsy ribbon that’s not to come down until the opening of The Dawes Arboretum’s Spring Plant Sale. Ah, it’s time!

My eyes dart from side to side, not able to alight on where to commence. I fall victim to the prospect of a wonderful shrub, brilliant red chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia ‘Brilliantissima’), an aptly descriptive designation for a plant having bright, glossy red fruit and bright, glossy green leaves that turn bright, glossy red in fall. This spreading, suckering, multi-stemmed deciduous shrub grows 6’ tall and has scads of white flowers in May. I wish others would consider planting this native species instead of the invasive winged euonymus, a.k.a. burning-bush (Euonymus alatus).

Ooh… look at all the eastern redbuds, Cercis canadensis! This tough, small native tree with heart-shaped leaves and bright magenta-pink flowers lights up Ohio wood edges and fields in early spring. Novel selections being offered this year are: ‘Ace of Hearts’ sporting a densely rounded crown that requires little if any pruning; Black Pearl with very dark purple foliage; and Carolina Sweetheart, a variegated selection with leaves having pink, red, white, purple, and green (of course) all represented. ‘Kay’s Early Hope’, a named variety of an Asian redbud species (Cercis chinensis) was introduced by J. C. Raulston Arboretum. Its flowers are clustered densely along upright stems, and are alleged to bloom for a rather long period–March to the end of April!

My eyes don’t deceive me. That is Cornus florida Cherokee Brave flowering dogwood, a selection of a well-beloved native tree having flower clusters subtended by a ring of showy red bracts whose centers fade to white. In early autumn, the glossy red fruits are ornamentally attractive and also readily devoured by birds.

Another excellent choice is Cornus kousa ‘Girard’s Dwarf’ an unusual selection of an Asian dogwood that is slow-growing and compact in habit. Red, raspberry-like fruits 1-2″ across follow an abundant white floral display. Fall color can be dark purple to orange-red. An easy plant to place in the garden.

Also available in this year’s Plant Sale is Mandarin Jewel Chinese kousa dogwood, a small, low-branched, deciduous tree to 20′ tall and wide. Originating from Brotzman’s Nursery, Madison, Ohio, it was selected for its profuse white-bracted flowers in late May through early June, and for the pulpy fruits that begin yellow but turn pumpkin-orange when ripe. They are edible (just not delicious) and have a consistency I find similar to that of eating an overripe banana covered in sand. Oh, come on! I’m sure you have too.

Why, here is Indigofera pseudotinctoria, a small, deciduous, flowering groundcover with downy leaves, seldom achieving over 2’ tall. The small pinkish pea-like flowers are in dense clusters in June. Lovely when used as a low-spreader in front of other, taller growing plants.

One of my favorite genera is Magnolia, which I always find desirable. The deciduous selection Magnolia ‘Genie’ is a knock-out! A compact, small tree capable of growing 12’ tall and 6’ wide, its 6” scented flowers in mid-spring are dark maroon-purple. Magnolia Honey Tulip is an early spring bloomer sporting golden cup-shaped flowers. A slightly bigger magnolia, it can achieve 16’ tall and half as wide.

Be still my heart! Before me is Rhododendron ‘Faisa’. This is a lepidote (scaly leaved) rhododendron with strong reddish purple buds opening into a blend of light purple and purplish pink flowers. Scaly leaved rhododendrons can grow in slightly more exposed locations than other types, and I am lucky my landscape has good drainage. Ericaceae (heath family) members such as rhododendron and azalea must have acidic soil and good drainage for success.

Ok, my arms are full. I wonder if I can wrestle a wagon away from another shopper? There are still many more plants for which I’ll need to make a decision, and I only have a small truck.

Here’s hoping you are as successful at The Dawes Arboretum’s Spring Plant Sale!

]]>http://dawesarb.org/blog/be-still-my-heart/feed/0Arbor Day Festival at The Dawes Arboretumhttp://dawesarb.org/blog/arbor-day-festival-at-the-dawes-arboretum/
http://dawesarb.org/blog/arbor-day-festival-at-the-dawes-arboretum/#respondMon, 23 Apr 2018 16:19:43 +0000http://dawesarb.org/?p=12101By Mari Ann Moore, Marketing Associate Trees are celebrated every day at The Dawes Arboretum, but the Arbor Day Festival is a special event. The Arboretum is the perfect place to enjoy trees, nature and everything that the Arbor Day Festival offers. The Dawes Arboretum is kicking off this year’s festival by giving the […]

Trees are celebrated every day at The Dawes Arboretum, but the Arbor Day Festival is a special event. The Arboretum is the perfect place to enjoy trees, nature and everything that the Arbor Day Festival offers. The Dawes Arboretum is kicking off this year’s festival by giving the first 500 families a tree to take home and plant in honor of Arbor Day!

Join us from 11am to 3pm for a day filled with fun activities. Here’s what we have planned:

Throughout the day there will also be supervised tree climbing for children (who are at least eight years old), displays and food trucks. This is one event that you don’t want to miss!

This event is made possible through the generous support of presenting sponsor Park National Bank, media sponsor Ohio Magazine, children’s program sponsor Bartlett Tree Experts and The Arboretum’s many volunteers and partner organizations.

Learn more about all upcoming events at The Dawes Arboretum: dawesarb.org/learn/calendar

]]>http://dawesarb.org/blog/arbor-day-festival-at-the-dawes-arboretum/feed/0History Center Preview: Spring 2018http://dawesarb.org/blog/history-center-preview-spring-2018/
http://dawesarb.org/blog/history-center-preview-spring-2018/#respondFri, 16 Mar 2018 14:02:24 +0000http://dawesarb.org/?p=11804By Leslie Wagner, Historian In 1929 The Dawes Arboretum was established by Beman and Bertie Dawes, propelled by Beman’s determination to inspire others to plant trees. At the time of The Arboretum’s establishment, Ohio was depleted of trees due to a 150-year period of forest removal. Beman, a former industrialist, decided to turn his oil […]

In 1929 The Dawes Arboretum was established by Beman and Bertie Dawes, propelled by Beman’s determination to inspire others to plant trees. At the time of The Arboretum’s establishment, Ohio was depleted of trees due to a 150-year period of forest removal. Beman, a former industrialist, decided to turn his oil earnings into a nature preservation at his Newark, Ohio, farm where he allowed native species to continue to grow while plantings of non-natives were encouraged for scientific research and public enjoyment. The Arboretum was intended for public touring and offered a view of tree collections that thrived in the mid-Ohio climate. The efforts of the Dawes family contributed to the American Conservation Movement of the early twentieth century and have made The Arboretum a treasure of Licking County.

The History Center exhibit this year will focus on the Arboretum’s history of forestry. Displays will showcase tree plantings at The Arboretum, plant labels from the 1920s to present, wood artifacts Beman and Bertie collected on their travels and the leaf that The Arboretum’s logo is modeled after. Visitors will also learn how the first State Forester of Ohio helped the Dawes family develop The Arboretum’s tree collections. The History Center will be open for the season on April 7 from 1-4pm and then be open every Saturday and Sunday after that through October. Feel free to view the space on your own and join a Daweswood House tour at 1 or 3pm.

]]>http://dawesarb.org/blog/history-center-preview-spring-2018/feed/0Maple Syrup Days: A Traditional Favorite with Some New Twistshttp://dawesarb.org/blog/maple-syrup-days-traditional-favorite-new-twists/
http://dawesarb.org/blog/maple-syrup-days-traditional-favorite-new-twists/#respondWed, 21 Feb 2018 14:04:54 +0000http://dawesarb.org/?p=11700By Sarah Mill, Director of Education With the last of the freezing nights and the beginning of sap flow, maple trees are tapped for their sweet sap which is boiled down into delicious maple syrup. At the Arboretum this signifies the beginning of Maple Syrup Days, our annual celebration featuring guided tours, maple syrup samples […]

With the last of the freezing nights and the beginning of sap flow, maple trees are tapped for their sweet sap which is boiled down into delicious maple syrup. At the Arboretum this signifies the beginning of Maple Syrup Days, our annual celebration featuring guided tours, maple syrup samples and more!

Visit The Arboretum during syrup season and find the Maple Syrup Trail, just beyond the main parking area. Learn about the history and science behind tree-tapping and maple sugaring as you meander down a wooded path toward the Log Cabin. Along the trail, informational signs and visual aids help tell the tale of maple syrup making. At the cabin, learn about how an evaporator is used to process sap into syrup and taste a sweet sample of this gift from the trees. Our guided tours allow visitors to learn the entire maple syrup process from start to finish.

New in 2018, are expanded times for our guided tours of the Maple Syrup Trail, which will be offered at noon, 1pm and 2pm on Saturdays, February 24 and March 3 and Sundays, February 25 and March 4. These guided tours are free for Arboretum members and $2 for non-members. The Log Cabin will remain open from 10am to 3pm for those looking to explore on their own. Special tours for scouts and private group tours are also available. See our calendar for complete details or email education@dawesarb.org with inquiries.

Beyond exploring the trail, there are other ways to participate in maple syrup events. New in 2018 is an evening event to celebrate syrup season, after dark. On Friday, March 2, families will enjoy Family Night: Under the Sugar Moon where attendees will learn about maple syrup production and enjoy a fire at the Log Cabin with hot chocolate and syrup samples. Visit our website calendar for more information and to register.

Maple Syrup Days doesn’t have to end after the events are over! If the sample of syrup tickles your taste buds, be sure to stop into the Visitors Center to purchase locally produced syrup and other maple products or buy a bucket and a tap to collect sap and make your own at home!

]]>http://dawesarb.org/blog/maple-syrup-days-traditional-favorite-new-twists/feed/0Why Prescribed Burns Benefit Native Ecosystemshttp://dawesarb.org/blog/prescribed-burns-benefit-native-ecosystems/
http://dawesarb.org/blog/prescribed-burns-benefit-native-ecosystems/#respondTue, 30 Jan 2018 14:13:29 +0000http://dawesarb.org/?p=11494by Shana Byrd, Director of Land Conservation at The Dawes Arboretum & Ohio Certified Prescribed Fire Manager Historically, fire has been a natural feature of the landscape, helping to shape plant communities, promote diversity and favor the unique species that depend on fire to complete their life cycles. For many years, fire suppression led to […]

Historically, fire has been a natural feature of the landscape, helping to shape plant communities, promote diversity and favor the unique species that depend on fire to complete their life cycles. For many years, fire suppression led to excess fuels, which has led to severe wildfire incidents that cause damage. Unlike wildfires, prescribed burns are intentionally conducted under predetermined conditions, with specific parameters and defined resource management objectives. Certain ecosystems benefit from fire management, including prairie grasslands and fire adapted forests where swift removal of debris leaves the primary plants intact and allows for new growth. Specifically, prescribed burning:

Improves habitat for rare and unique species

Returns nutrients by removing thatch and fertilizing soil

Promotes growth of beneficial wildflowers, trees and other plants

Removes undesirable weeds that threaten to choke out native species

Reduces pests and fuels that can fuel destructive wildfires

Photo Courtesy of Stephen Wingate

How Prescribed Burns Happen at The Dawes Arboretum

Experienced professionals with knowledge of fire behavior plan many months in advance, writing detailed burn plans that dictate the conditions needed to consume material and dissipate smoke quickly. These burn plans define safety perimeters called “burn breaks” and take into account temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, as well as nearby residences, roadways and other sensitive areas prior to receiving approval from officials. These specialists, known as Certified Burn Managers, receive training through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry on fire ecology, burn planning, firing techniques, smoke management and contingency plans, among many other skills needed to determine whether the conditions are right for a burn on a given day. When applied by knowledgeable land managers under the appropriate weather conditions, prescribed fire is a safe, effective and economical tool for improving natural lands. The Dawes Arboretum has used prescribed burning in natural ecosystem management for years and will continue relying on this tool in the future to restore diversity and support native plantings.

Prescribed Fire Community of Practitioners

In 2014, The Ohio Prescribed Fire Council was formed as an official group with the goal of “supporting the responsible use of prescribed fire in fire-adapted ecosystems in Ohio.” Together, these practitioners share training opportunities, learn from research, review fire regulations and help educate the public on the use of prescribed burning. In September of 2017, The Dawes Arboretum Land Conservation staff attended the Annual Meeting of The Ohio Prescribed Fire Council and learned about different approaches to the use of fire management. We are grateful for our partners within the prescribed fire community and we often assist one another during burns to share experience and lend support.

Photo Courtesy of Stephen Wingate

Restoring Balance to Nature

As we approach the 2018 burn season this spring, we will once again offer our help to others and welcome assistance from local fire departments and nearby partners, to provide extra training in the field. In addition to helping one another reach our management goals, the use of prescribed fire allows us to continue the historical tradition of fire on the landscape, and helps us play a role in restoring balance to nature.

]]>http://dawesarb.org/blog/prescribed-burns-benefit-native-ecosystems/feed/0Winter Appeal, Looks to Tastehttp://dawesarb.org/blog/winter-appeal-looks-taste/
http://dawesarb.org/blog/winter-appeal-looks-taste/#respondThu, 11 Jan 2018 17:52:22 +0000http://dawesarb.org/?p=11483This post was previously published on our blog on January 27, 2016. By Michael Ecker, Director of Horticulture When it comes to plants possessing winter interest, some are mentioned over and over. Nothing wrong with these commonly repeated plants, but how about some that do not come up as often? Plants I tend to […]

]]>This post was previously published on our blog on January 27, 2016.

By Michael Ecker, Director of Horticulture

When it comes to plants possessing winter interest, some are mentioned over and over. Nothing wrong with these commonly repeated plants, but how about some that do not come up as often? Plants I tend to visit every winter, over and over.

Take a look at the trunk of the old specimen of dawn-redwood at the Daweswood House. It reminds me of “The Blob”, a monster of older science-fiction fame. Instead of covering cuts and stubs with surrounding new wood like many other trees, dawn-redwood’s trunk folds over, assimilating them. In this process it creates valleys and grottoes that have acquired the lovely name of “arm pitting”.

Many are familiar with the handsome peeling bark on trunks and branches of paperbark maple, but a species known as three-flower maple also has wonderful tannish peeling bark. However, not everyone sees peeling bark as a plus, which was pointed out to me once upon my extolling the virtues of such a plant. “It looks like it’s dead.” To each his own.

The kousa dogwood has gray, tan, and green bark typically described as mottled. Most think it’s attractive, as do I, although anything else having the descriptive term “mottled” associated with it is usually bad.

A favorite plant group that provides colorful fruit in winter are hollies. Birds and squirrels enjoy their fruit, and we enjoy the bright colors of red, orange, or yellow berries as eye-candy.

But what about alders with their dark brown, cone-like woody reproductive structures? You could collect them, spray paint them bright colors and put them into indoor or outdoor arrangements. I won’t – but you could!

On a clear, cold, blue-sky day, Sunspray hinoki false-cypress leaps out from the surrounding landscape. Its colorful winter foliage is a bright, happy yellow, not murky yellow as some other sick-looking plants have in winter.

Another “happy” looking evergreen shrub is Winter Gold mugo pine, which has banded green and yellow foliage. Gold Coin Scots pine is light green in summer but upon cold weather turns a nice yellow. The colder the temperature, the better the color.

Typically loved and known for their flowers, not winter interest, are some of the evergreen rhododendrons that have foliage colors from dark purple, almost black, to red and maroon.

Another alluring winter trait is the horizontal, crooked branching habit of twisted European beech. A dusting of snow highlights these contorted limbs, making the effect just that much nicer.

Not as much alluring as “alarming” are the green, robust(!) thorns on hardy-orange. Bent, curled, and congested dead branches from the last couple of winters have not been pruned out of our specimen – visit the Conifer Glen and take a look. You’ll understand why.

Not an ornamental trait of sugar maple in the winter, but still of winter interest are buckets hanging from spiles on trunks where tapping for maple syrup is in progress. Be sure to take advantage of Maple Syrup Madness, February 20 through March 6, 2016. Learn the history, see the process, and taste a sample of Dawes Arboretum’s real maple syrup.

]]>http://dawesarb.org/blog/winter-appeal-looks-taste/feed/0The Dawes Arboretum Holiday Gift Guidehttp://dawesarb.org/blog/dawes-arboretum-gift-guide/
http://dawesarb.org/blog/dawes-arboretum-gift-guide/#respondWed, 15 Nov 2017 20:46:20 +0000http://dawesarb.org/?p=11346By Mari Ann Moore, Marketing Associate With the gift giving season upon us, it can be easy to get lost among the ribbons, bows, and endless shopping lists. To help, we have compiled the ultimate gift guide for the nature lover or Arboretum addict in your life. All of these items can be purchased in […]

With the gift giving season upon us, it can be easy to get lost among the ribbons, bows, and endless shopping lists. To help, we have compiled the ultimate gift guide for the nature lover or Arboretum addict in your life. All of these items can be purchased in our gift shop, located in the Visitors Center.

Dawes Arboretum Membership

The ultimate gift: A membership to The Dawes Arboretum. Arboretum members receive special benefits, such as a discount at the gift shop and plant sales, a discounted rate when signing up for our programs, free Daweswood House Museum tours, free catch-and-release fishing at Dawes Lake, a discount at select retailers, a coupon for a one year subscription to Better Homes and Gardens and more!

Cookie Cutters

Turning on the oven and making cut out cookies is one of the best ways to enjoy the season. We have a variety of cookie cutters in different shapes, but our state of Ohio cookie cutter is our latest addition.

Ornaments

You can never have too many ornaments. Our beautiful bird ornament or wooden snowflake ornament would make the perfect gift.

Socks

Each pair has a unique design, just like the people on your shopping list. Check out our cardinal socks, our peacock socks or our tree socks! Stop in to see which pair is perfect for you to gift.

Candles

This year, we have a large variety of candles to choose from. Whether you prefer the fresh scent of a Christmas Tree or the warm scent of Cinnamon Buns, these candles will be on everyone’s wish list.

National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Wildflowers of North America by David M. Brandenburg

Written by Dawes Arboretum Botanist, David M. Brandenburg beautifully details the wildflowers in North America. This gift pairs perfectly with a visit to The Arboretum, where you can identify the wildflowers we have on our grounds!

Coffee Mug

Know someone who can’t get through the morning without a cup of coffee? Get them a coffee mug from The Dawes Arboretum! Embellished with our logo, this mug would make a great gift for someone who loves to visit The Arboretum.

Sweets!

If you have someone in your life with a sweet tooth, The Arboretum has no shortage of sweet treats. Whether it be chocolate covered pretzels or local honey or a candy bar, these treats make excellent stocking stuffers.